Facts

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A new documentary called “Running Flat Out: The Stories, The 'Shine, The Speedway” looks at how it all began.

When there were no jobs in the early 1940s, some people turned to running liquor at night in the deep South as a means to make a living. Their work had to happen fast, which meant highpowered cars and police chases, and this naturally progressed to stock car racing, said host Pam Stone, a comedian, columnist, radio host and actress.

“What we felt was missing were capturing the stories of men that left their livelihoods running liquor in north Georgia and the Carolinas to embrace the 'safer' livelihood of dirt track racing. These are men that in their personal and in their driving careers were running flat out,” Stone says in the introduction.

The documentary was filmed as a pilot episode, with the hope of turning “Running Flat Out” into a series, Stone said. The first episode is mainly about racing pioneers JB Day and Ed Samples but also mentions Charlie Mincey, who will most likely be profiled in the second episode.

“These were men who worked on their own cars, that raised a family, that put food on the table, that lived these incredibly brave lives. The stories have to be documented,” she said.

The 23-minute show features interviews with J.B. Day, owner of Riverbend Racing Museum in Easley; Eddie Samples, son of national champion Ed Samples; Sammy Hulsey, Ed Samples' first cousin; and Mike Bell, a racing historian. It includes authentic photos and footage of the first stock car races.

Although racing was safer than running liquor, drivers still faced plenty of danger.

They were going 60-70 mph on dirt tracks in vehicles with skinny tires and no seatbelts, and there were horrific wrecks. Nevertheless, drivers were extremely committed to the profession, sometimes driving all night to get to a race and then sleeping on the infield, Stone said.

“They were so passionate about it. I think viewers will take away a real appreciation of just how tough it was in those early days. I think viewers will be a little sad that those kinds of stories don't exist today,” she said. “I miss that part of America. I miss that ballsy-ness, that gritty courage.”

“Running Flat Out ” was directed by Erik Olsen and coproduced by Olsen and Stone.

Stone's interest in the subject stems from her location and her family. Her German grandfather used to run liquor in America, and the area of South Carolina where Stone now lives is known for its former bootlegging days. In addition, she knew Ed Samples and grew up with Eddie.

Unbelievable stories

For much of the documentary, Eddie Samples, Day and Hulsey are shown talking side by side. Stone said it was her job to get the conversation rolling and keep the energy up. The result is some candid, shocking and hilarious responses.

“We just let the cameras roll because J.B. had so many stories,” Stone said. “It was difficult to make those edits and choose what we were going to use and what we were going to leave out.”

Here are some of the outrageous stories told by the experts in the film:

◆ At 13 years old, Charles Mincey was running 200 gal­lons of liquor a day, seven days a week, and earning $200 a day.

◆ Ed Samples was shot in the back while running liquor in the 1930s and ran into the other bootleggers at the hospital.

◆ Samples was injured when his car flipped multiple times during the qualifying round of a 1950s race. As luck would have it, a brain surgeon convention was being held nearby, and Ed survived because of it. A short time later, he was racing again with a bandage wrapped around his head.

◆ Drivers would carry gas containers in their cars, with the caps loosened for quick refills — a lethal situation in the event of a wreck. But there was strong camaraderie among racers, and stories remain of competitors rescuing rivals from fiery crashes.

◆ Louise Smith was one of the women who loved to drive fast. In her first impromptu race, she kept going because no one told her to stop after the checkered flag was waved.

Reach Andrea Honaker at ahonaker@gastongazette.

com or 704-869-1840. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/ andi384.

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